Burgundy in the sky, 63 floors up
Financial District · New York · American · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed April 8, 2026
Wingman Metrics
You step out of the elevator on the 63rd floor of a 1932 Art Deco tower and the wine list lands on the table like a brick — in the best way. Eight hundred to twelve hundred bottles deep, with Burgundy and Italy doing the heavy lifting, this is a list that means business. The skyline view is doing a lot of work, but so is whoever built this cellar.
The Burgundy section alone could keep a serious drinker busy for months — Domaine de la Romanée-Conti, Henri Jayer, Armand Rousseau, Domaine Leroy, and Domaine Leflaive all show up, which is less a wine list and more a who's-who of the Côte d'Or. Italy holds its own with Giacomo Conterno Barolo, Gaja Barbaresco, and Sassicaia anchoring a strong peninsula contingent. There's a nod to California with Opus One for the table that needs something familiar, and Guigal's La Landonne keeps the Rhône corner honest. Gaps exist — the New World outside California feels thin and there's no obvious entry-level discovery tier — but at this altitude, that's probably by design.
Twenty to thirty-five options by the glass is genuinely impressive for a program this prestige-forward, and the price range of $18–$60 a pour means you can explore without committing to a four-figure bottle. We'd love to know how frequently the selection rotates, but the sheer count suggests there's something interesting happening beyond the usual Sancerre-and-Cab defaults.
Guigal La Landonne — $80+ entry
In a list dominated by three-figure Burgundy, La Landonne is a Northern Rhône monster — Syrah at its most serious — that often comes in under the price of a village-level Gevrey from the same list. It's the move for anyone who wants a power wine without paying DRC prices.
Giacomo Conterno Barolo
Everyone at the table is gravitating toward the Burgundy, which means the Conterno Barolo is sitting there quietly being one of the greatest expressions of Nebbiolo on the planet. Traditionalist winemaking, serious aging potential, and it still gets overlooked when Rousseau is on the same page.
Opus One
Opus One is a fine wine that has been marked up to fine-dining trophy prices everywhere it appears, and Saga is no exception. At this altitude — literally and figuratively — you can do so much better with the same dollars pointed at anything in the Burgundy or Italian sections.
Armand Rousseau Gevrey-Chambertin + Dry-aged duck
Rousseau's Gevrey has that savory, earthy backbone and iron-tinged red fruit that mirrors dry-aged duck perfectly — the gaminess of the bird and the structure of the wine find each other and neither backs down. It's the pairing that justifies the elevator ride.
🔥 The Bottom Line
Saga is a serious wine destination wearing a fine-dining restaurant as its disguise — the cellar punches at grand cru level and the views make the steep markup sting a little less. Send your most wine-obsessed friend here and tell them to order the duck.
Midtown West · New York · Russian-American
The Russian Tea Room treats wine as an afterthought dressed up in Champagne flutes — five famous labels at punishing prices with no range, no by-the-glass program, and no apparent curiosity about wine beyond what looks impressive on a table. Go for the spectacle, order the caviar, but don't come here expecting a wine list.
Grocery Store
Gouge
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· New York · Restaurant
David Burke Tavern's list is a Chardonnay lover's comfort zone with a solid sparkling section propping up the top — but the narrow focus and steep pricing mean you're paying for familiarity, not discovery. Send a friend here if they want California whites and a glass of Champagne; send them somewhere else if they want to explore.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· New York · Restaurant
Corima's wine list is proof that ten well-chosen bottles beat a hundred thoughtless ones every time. If you care about what's in your glass, this place is worth your attention.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
West Village · New York · American
Cecchi's is first and foremost a bar, but the wine list is more serious than the neon and noise suggest. Steep markups are the main ding — but if you know what to order, there's real pleasure here.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Acceptable
SoHo · New York · Steak House, Small Plates
The Corner Store is a reliable, well-credentialed wine list doing exactly what a good SoHo steakhouse should — France and California, done with intention, in a room that makes you want to order another bottle. Just watch the markup on the big Bordeaux names and let the Rhône or Burgundy side show you a better time.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Proper
Tribeca · New York · American
Farra is punching above its weight class for a neighborhood wine bar, and the Wine Spectator nod is earned — just know that the serious bottles come with serious prices, and the no-sommelier setup means you're doing some of the navigating yourself. Worth it for anyone who knows what they want; potentially overwhelming for those who don't.
Small but Thoughtful
Steep
Varietal Specific
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Proper
Southwest / Time Corners · Fort Wayne · American
Catablu is exactly what it needs to be for its neighborhood — a reliable, thoughtfully maintained list that won't embarrass you on a date night or bore you entirely. It's not a destination wine list, but it's a solid supporting act for a kitchen that clearly takes food seriously.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Otay Ranch Town Center · Chula Vista · American
BJ's is a fine place to drink a craft beer and eat a Pizookie. It is not a place to drink wine. Order a Brewhouse Blonde, skip the wine list entirely, and save your wine night for somewhere that cares.
Grocery Store
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
SanTan Village · Gilbert · American
The Cheesecake Factory is a perfectly fine place to eat — the wine list just isn't a reason to go. Order a cocktail, split a bottle of Santa Margherita if you must, and save your wine curiosity for somewhere that earned it.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.